Thirty-five Mt. Pleasant Junior High School band students have qualified for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Region IV Middle School All-Region Band. Twenty-one students qualified for the Symphonic Band and 14 qualified for the Concert Band.

Eight students earned 1st chair, essentially 1st place in their category. Seven of those top 1st chair in the Symphonic Band: David Perez on Flute, Hannah Harvill on Oboe, Taylor Hubbs on Bassoon, Holly Reese on Bass Clarinet, Hannah Bowles on Contra-Bass Clarinet, Pablo Mata on Tenor Saxophone and Donoven Young on Percussion.  Adrian Resendiz earned 1st chair on Tuba in the Concert Band.

This is the largest number of students to earn 1st chairs in the history of the MPJH Band program. MPJHS also earned more 1st chairs than all the participating schools.

Several of the MPJH students earning 1st chairs this year placed in the All-Region bands last year as well. This is the second year that Taylor Hubbs has earned 1st chair on Bassoon in the Symphonic Band. Last year Hannah Harville earned 2nd chair Oboe in the Symphonic Band, Pablo Mata earned 1st chair Tenor Saxophone in the Concert Band while David Perez (Flute) and Holly Reese (Bass Clarinet) earned 2nd chairs in the Concert Band.

Four students who earned places this year were alternates last year: Alitzel Mendoza (Flute 3rd chair Symphonic this year), Ruby Ferritz (Flute 6th chair Symphonic this year), Neida Perez (Bb Clarinet 15th chair Symphonic this year) and Donoven Young (Percussion 1st chair Symphonic this year). Seven other students placed both years: Joshua Espinoza (Flute Concert last year, 10th chair Symphonic this year Symphonic this year), Joselyn Reyes (Flute Concert both years, 4th chair this year), Jayme Don Juan (Bb Clarinet Concert last year, 11th  chair Symphonic this year), Genesis Davila (Bb Clarinet Concert both years, 13th chair this year), Emmalee Wade  (Bb Clarinet Concert last year 5th Symphonic this year), Jonathan Tepetate (Alto Saxophone Concert last year, 2nd chair Symphonic this year), and Jayden Beckham (Trumpet Concert last year, 6th chair Symphonic this year).

“I am thrilled that so many of our students placed both years with many of them improving their positions or moving from Concert Band to Symphonic Band,” said MPJHS Band Director Karen Luckett.

“I am so proud of all the MPJH students who auditioned for the All-Region band,” Luckett added. “We took 46 students to Pine Tree High School for the auditions. These students put in an extensive amount of time and effort to prepare for these auditions. We have been preparing for them since the first week of school. I am pleased that so many of them auditioned. I congratulate them all whether they made the All-Region Band or not.”

Other students who qualified for the All-Region Bands are Flutes: Kayla Mata (2nd Symphonic), Anahi Valente (7th Symphonic), Ximena Tovar (8th Symphonic) and Karli Hill (2nd Concert), Bb Clarinet: Viridiana Portillo (6th Concert), Juanita Gutierrez (8th Concert) and Kaitlyn Reese (10th Concert); Trumpet: Dewayne Ivory (5th Symphonic) and Dana Memije (7th Concert); Baritone: Daniel Garcia (4th Concert); Tuba: Kolby Perkins (5th Concert); and Percussion: Tommy Arredondo (2nd Symphonic), Erik Ojendis (6th Symphonic), Elizabeth Lockett (3rd Concert), David Perez (4th Concert), Jair Moreno (5th Concert) and Isai Ramirez (8th Concert).

The 35 Mt. Pleasant Junior High All-Region Band members, along with those who made the High School Jazz and Freshman All- Region bands will perform in the TMEA Region IV Middle School/Freshman/Jazz Clinic & Concert on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Paris Junior High School in Paris, Texas.

Pictured: The MPJHS All-Region Band members.